Late Change NZD/USD 0.8458 +0.0150 NZD/AUD 0.7961 +0.0033 NZD/JPY 64.90 +0.705 April 2013 Bond 3.03% +1.0 bp May 2021 Bond 4.515% +0.5 bps 10-Year U.S. Spread +230 bps +3.0 bps 90-Day Bank Bill 2.90% +1.0 bp WELLINGTON (Dow Jones)--The New Zealand dollar is trading higher late Monday as risk appetite improves following comments from U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke late Friday. "Risk appetite is pushing up post-Bernanke. It looks like his comment that they did indeed discuss further policy options and that they are extending the September FOMC from one to two days is being interpreted as leaving the door ajar for further easing if needed," said RBC Capital Markets Currency Strategist Sue Trinh. She also said the New Zealand dollar and the Australia dollar are outperforming following media reports that China's Bright Foods is looking at a possible acquisition in the region, signalling potential positive merger-and-acquisition inflows. China's Bright Food Group Co. is considering bidding for Australian wine company Treasury Wine Estates Ltd. (TWE.AU), Bloomberg News reported, citing two people who declined to be named. Overnight, the market focus will be on Europe and a special session of the European Parliament's economics committee--with European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet, Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker and European Union Commissioner for Economics and Monetary Affairs Olli Rehn all present--as it should offer further comments on the European debt crisis. The New Zealand government bond market moved slightly lower, while interest rate swaps were higher in a market where volume and activity were light, a local trader said. -By Lucy Craymer, Dow Jones Newswires; 64-4-471-5990; lucy.craymer@dowjones.com

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